Railway signaling device.



IA'I'EITIED AUG. 8, 1905.

J. IRWIN. RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED BIFI'T. 13, 1903- 2 BHEBTB-BKEBT 1.

wring? No. 796,728. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905;

. J. IRWIN. RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

slur. M1 iii v FE-Urine JOSEPH IRWIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed September 13, 1902. Serial No. 123,240.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH IRWIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an electric signaling system, and moreparticularly to an audible system designed to prevent trains on singleor double track railroads from coming into a collision, which system mayor may not be used in connection with a semaphore or any visible system.7

The objects of this invention are, first, to provide a system in whichshort-circuiting of the current through the axle will not occur, thisbeing due to the fact that in one rail of the track between the variouslengths insulation is put in, while the other rail is bonded and acts asa return feed instead of grounding the wire; to provide a track-sectioncircuit which closes a circuit in the engineers cab and also in thecaboose or other part of the train when the latter bridges two adjoiningsections, thereby notifying both the engineer and the conductor that thetrain is leaving one section and entering another; to provide automaticmeans whereby any and all trains within a section will be notified as atrain is entering suclr section; to provide means whereby the engineermay signal to the conductor or' the conductor to the engineer toascertain from either end of the train whether or not the train isparted, and to provide a system wherein the operator in charge of asection or block may close a switch,

' which will cause the signals or bells to ring in all trains within thelimits of suchvsection or block, thereby notifying the engineers of alltrains in such section that a train is approaching or following, whichwarns them of possible danger. It is apparent that this system may alsobe used in the mail-service to notify the mail-clerk of the trainsapproach to a mail-station, thereby avoiding the annoyance of constantwatch for familiar objects near the station and also saving considerabletime in the service, which may be used to advantage.

larly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which consistof two sheets, Figure l is aplan view of a portiop of a railroad-track, showing two sections, themain -line wire between the same, the bonded rail of the track, and alsothe sectioncircuit wires. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the track,showing a broken sectional view of a train of cars between two stations,the traincircuits, the section-circuit which closes the train-circuits,the main circuit, and a portion of a train bridging twosections- Fig. 3is a side elevation of track with a diagram of an operators station, aportion of a train bridging two sections or blocks, the section-circuitwires and devices, and the circuit-wires to signal the engineer. Fig. i:is a detail view of an 1 electromagnet in the local circuit, an armatureattracted by the same to cause the upwardlyextending pin thereof toenter a copper contact-cup, which contact forms a circuit in theengineers cab and through the train to any desired point.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, like letters of reference referto like parts in the several figures.

The letters A A designate the two rails of at railway-track, the former,A, being provided with blocks of insulation between the variousraillengths, while the latter, A, is bonded and acts as a return feed forthe main circuit-wire. The bonded rail A is connected' at its oints bybonds which are of considerable resistance, so that acurrent will divideand part will pass through the partial circuit hereinafter describedcarried by the trains and part through the bonded rail. The

bonds connecting the rail-joints are, however, a

Section-circuit batteries E are provided and by preference are placed inthe ground convenient to the insulation-separators between thetrack-sections. A main-line wire 0 connects the, various section-circi1it batteries along the line and has connection with eachtrack-section by. wires 0'. The main-line wire e, the battery E, thewires 6', and the rails form a partial circuit, which, with-the partialcircuit on the cab of the train, form the section-circuit that controlsthe train-circuits.

The train of cars is designated by the letter F, and in the cab Fthereof an electromagnet j is located, to which circuit-wires f f areconnected, that lead to one of the tractionwheels F and to a wheel Funderneath the tender, respectively, both wheels riding over or haveconnection in any other approved,

manner. It is therefore apparent that when the train leaves one sectionand enters another section a circuit is formed when the wheel Funderneath the cab and the wheel F underneath the tender are on oppositesides of an insulation-separator. If desired,

the circuit-wires f" f may be connected toany other two wheels of thetrain which may be found desirable 'on fast trains. as the interval oftime in which the wheels F F are on opposite sides of aninsulation-separator may be so short that the train-signals cannot beactuated electrically when the train is going at a high rate of speed.

As the train enters a new section and the wheels F F are on oppositesides ofan insulation-separator the battery E in the new section-circuitenergizes the electromagnet f and causes an armature G located inoperative relation thereto to be attracted thereby. This action closesthe two train circuits.

The armature G has secured therctoa copper plate G, which is insuiatedfrom said arm--:ture and has connections with a circuitwire g, connectedalso with a bell-shaped contact device H, that cooperates with the saidcopper plate to close the circuit in the engine'ers cab. An electricbell or other signaling device I and a battery J are located in thiscircuit, and when the armature G is attracted by-the' electromagnetelectric connection is made between the copper plate G and the saidcontact device, thereby closing the circuit in the engineers cab andcausing the electric hell I to ring, whereby the engipeer is advisedthat the train is entering a new section or block. In this manner thecircuit in the cab is controlled by the sectioncircuit and is insulatedand independent therefrom. As sconas the traction-wheel F located in thesection-circuit, enters the new section the circuit is broken and thearmature G gravi'tates and disconnection is made between the copperplate secured thereto and the bell-shaped contact device H.

The copper plate G is provided with an upturned wedge-like extension orpin L, which maybe formed on or secured thereto.

This pin is by preference dipped in silver to insure less resistance inthe track-section cir cuit and is adapted to enter the contact device H,which consists of a downwardly-opening copper cup slotted atdiametrically opposite points, when the pin L is forced therein, therebycausing a rubbing contact which is positive and quick-acting.

A train-circuit is also provided to notify the conductor or other trainemployee as the This circuit passes-- train enters a new section.through the entire train, and in the rearmost.

.car it is provided with a signaling device, as f It is obvious thatsuch sigshown in Fig. 2.

naling device may be provided for every car in the train, thus notifyingthe conductor, as

it did the engineer, when entering upon a gew section irrespective ofwhat car he may e in.

one signal in addition to the device in the engineers cab. This circuitis formed by a cir-. cuit-wire M. led through all the cars and havingconnection with the car-buffers M, which when in contact provide apositive connection for the wire. One end of the mm M is connected tothe cab-circuit wire g,- and the other end has connection with one Wheelof a car- A wire mtruck underneath the rear car. connects the copperplate G with the wire A battery m and an electric hell or signaiingdevice m are located in this traincircuit, and therefore when thesectioncircuitis'closed the signal in the conductors car will ring, asdoes the signal in the engineers cab: By means of this arrangement adirect train-circuit is provided by means of which the engineer maysignal to the conductor;

This is accomplished by making and breaking contact between the coppercup H and the copper plate insulated from the armature Ga When the saidplate and the cup are in contact, a circuit is formed through thetrainwire M, buifers M, wheel M bonded rail A",

wheel F, wires f and in, copper plate G; contact H, and wire g, to whichthe train wire M is connected. If desired, a similan contact device maybe provided for the con? ductors car, in which case the conductor cansignal to the engineer or both to each other",

this being desirable to ascertain whetheror" not the train has beenparted.

When the train in passing bridges two sec-' tions-that is, when thewheels F F are on opposite sides of an insulation-separator+ the signaldevices in all trains within the section circuit will be actuated by theelectric current passing from the bonded rail through}.- the partialcircuit on the train, which closes the train-circuits and notifies theconductors and engineers of such trains that a train is en:

as at I, to provide a spring action,

For the purpose of illustration I show only as a result of the drop inpotential across the bonds between the successive railoints.

The operator having charge of a section can signal to the engineers orconductors of the train in such section to notify them that a train isapproaching or following, or, in other words, by closing a switch 0 inhis station he can notify all trains in the section in his care of thepresence of another or other trains within such sections. This isaccomplished by connecting the switch 0 with the main-line wire abetween the connecting-wires e in each circuit by a wire 0. The switches0 are also connected with the bonded rail by a wire 0', which hasconnection with a battery P. On closing the operators switch acircuit isformed by the wire 0, main wire 6, wire 0', bonded rail A, wire 0'.battery P, and partial sectioncircuit carried on the train. Thisenergizes clectromagnet f and closes the train and cab circuits, ashereinbefore described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a railwaysignaling system the combination with a track provided with one railforming asectional conductor while the other is provided with blocks ofinsulation between the rail-sections for preventing the rail from actingas a conductor, a source of electrical energy connected with theconducting-rails of adjacent sections and an incomplete signalingcircuitin the train including signaling instruments the said incompletetrain-circuit being completed when the train extends from one section tothe other of the conducting-rail.

2.. In a railway signaling system, a track having one line of railsdivided into insulated sections, the said line of rails also beingprovided with a certain amount of resistance at its joints, means forforming a partial circuit closing the circuit when the said localcircuit tery connecting two adjoining sections, a partial circuitcarried on the engineers cab and including an electromagnet and armaturetherefor, asignaling-circuit in the cab and a signaling-circuit throughthe train controlled by the armature and electrical instruments includedin said circuits, both circuits being closed when-the train bridges twoadjoining sections which connects the aforesaid partial circuits andenergizes the said electromagnet and causes the armature to beattracted.

4. In a railway signaling system, a track having one line of railsdivided into sections or blocks insulated from each other to providestations, an elcctromagnet on the train designed to attract an armatureand capable of electrical connection with the insulated sections of thesaid line of rails, a slgnalingcircuit in the cab including electricalinstruments, and means forclosing said signalingcircuit when saidarmature is attracted by the said electromagnet, substantially as setforth.

5. In a railway signaling system, a track comprising one line of railsdivided into insulated sections, while the other line of rails issuitably connected at its joints, an electromagnet on the train designedto attract an armature, conductors connecting the electromagnet with thewheels of the train, the said wheels forming an electric connection withthe sections over which the train is traveling, a signaling-circuit inthe engineers cab and a signaling-circuit throughout the train, eachincluding electrical instruments and means for closing the lastmentionedcircuits when A the armature is attracted by the said electromagnet.

I 6. A railway signaling apparatus comprising means extending through atrain forming part of a circuit, connections with the wheels of thetrain for extending the circuit to a rail of the track, a bonded railforminga part of said track, a slight resistance being placed in thejoints of the bonded rail, signaling devices in one or more places inthe train, and means for closing a circuit through the said signalingdevices of the train.

' 7. In a railway signaling device a circuit formed partially by abonded rail of the track and partially bya conductor passing through thetrain, the said conductor having connection with the wheels of the trainwhich ride upon therail, contact means arranged at any point in thetrain and signaling devices located in various parts of the train, thecon tact means making it possible to send signals to various points uponthe train.

8. In a railway signaling system, a track havingone of its rails bondedand divided. into sections or blocks insulated from'each other toprovide stations, and its other rail provided with insulation at all thejoints thereof, a partial circuit connecting two sections and a partialcircuit on the train comprisingelectrical instruments, and a wire havingconnection with wheels riding over the bonded rail of the track,substantially as set forth. I

9. In a railway signaling system the combination with a track having oneline of rails only capable of completing train-circuits, signalinginstruments carried by the train, an open circuit connecting saidinstruments with wheels of the train, an open-circuit connected withadjaceht sections a certain resistance interposed at the joints of theother line of rails of the conducting-rail and a circuit closingmechanism for completing the open track-circuit when the train passesthe same, the open train-circuit being closed thereby, the train-signalsbeing thus actuated.

10. A railway signaling system comprising a track havinga bonded raildivided into sections or blocks insulated from each other to providestations, a main wire passing from station to station, circuit-wiresconnecting the ends of said wire with adjoining sections of said rail, abattery in the main wire between two of said circuit-wires, anoperators' partial circuit including a circuit-closer connected to themain wire and the said rail, a partiai circuit carried on the trainincluding an electromagnet controlling a contact or switch, and asignaling-circuit in the train including electrical instruments whichcause a signal to be given when the said contact or switch is actuatedby the closing of a switch in the operators station. substantially asset forth.

y In witness whereof I have afiixed mysignature in the presence of twosubscribing wit-

